There are times in life when you can't tell if you're dreaming or awake. When you're not sure if you saw or heard something wrong, but it seems too unbelievable to be real.
This was one of those times.
"So… you're saying you came to protect me?"
"That's right."
"Because I'm your 'brother-in-law'?"
"Yes."
Was he senile? He was younger than the Headmistress, wasn't he?
The person sitting across from me was a celebrity even I knew of. Margrave Gregory Claudia, a Rank 8 of the kingdom. Of course, this was the first time I saw him in person, but I had heard that he was coming, and considering the oppressive aura he exuded, similar to the Headmistress, I was sure it was him.
But what was this about a brother-in-law?
'Brother-in-law… means your sister's husband.'
The Margrave's sister? Someone older than that old man? The only woman I knew who was older than him was the Headmistress.
So you're saying I'm the Headmistress's husband?
Hmm.
"Margrave Gregory, I appreciate your kind words, but that can't be…"
"There's no need to be modest. I've already heard enough from Julius."
Julius? What did he tell you?
No, wait. It was obvious. He must have gotten the wrong idea after seeing me get along with the Headmistress.
I couldn't help but sigh.
'Does that even make sense?'
Of course, the Headmistress looked like she was in her early twenties, but her actual age was on a different level. If I didn't know that, it would be one thing, but since I had been working with her for over a year and knew everything there was to know, it was impossible.
To me, the Headmistress was my superior and the one who habitually destroyed the budget in unexpected ways, not a romantic partner.
But I didn't argue strongly.
"…Anyway, I'm grateful that you think of me that way."
"Brother-in-law, don't worry. I'll actively support you."
"Haha, alright."
After all, the Margrave was also an old man, even if he was a bit younger than the Headmistress.
It was similar to meeting elders during holidays and being asked when you were getting married. It was much better to just laugh it off than to refute them point by point. I could just subtly mention it to the Headmistress later.
Anyway, that aside…
I kept an eye on the door through which Crown Prince Zeke and his attendants had left.
"I hear there have been some unsettling movements in the Delphia Kingdom recently."
"My sister must have told you. You truly are a worthy brother-in-law."
"…The fact that His Highness the Crown Prince himself came to a foreign country in such a situation…"
"Means there's a good reason for it."
"Or he needs to escape the kingdom, one of the two."
"You're quick-witted. Truly a worthy brother-in-law."
Ignoring the strange additions to his words,
I quietly fiddled with the paper in my pocket.
'He said there was a personal request written in this.'
After the Margrave barged in, there was an uncomfortable standoff for a while. Of course, it wasn't my standoff, but between Crown Prince Zeke and the Margrave.
Since the Margrave's territory bordered both the Delphia Kingdom and the kingdom, there must have been many conflicts between them. Moreover, the Margrave was stronger than the only Rank 8 in the Delphia Kingdom, and he was from a more powerful country, so there was nothing more to say.
Naturally, the staring contest between Crown Prince Zeke and the Margrave, who must have had a complicated relationship, ended with the Margrave's victory. Crown Prince Zeke had Suzanne secretly hand me a note and left the room.
Then, would the Margrave be unaware of that?
'No way.'
The Rank 8s I knew were monsters who could sense everything happening around them with their superhuman senses. There was no way he wouldn't have noticed Crown Prince Zeke and Suzanne, or the note being passed, especially since neither of them was Rank 8.
The reason he didn't mention it… was probably because he was praising me as his brother-in-law. It was truly unexpected help.
I decided to check the note later.
"But now that Crown Prince Zeke has left, there's no need to protect me anymore, is there?"
"I like your straightforwardness. But I still have something to do."
"…It's because of the next guest."
"That's right."
The Margrave said he came to protect me because he was wary of Crown Prince Zeke. There were many suspicious things about the Crown Prince's actions, including the matter with Beatrice.
That meant there was no reason to protect me after the Crown Prince left, but…
The Margrave still remained in the room. It was because of the next guest.
Although I asked out of courtesy if he still needed to stay, I wanted the Margrave to remain.
After all, the next guest was—
Click.
Suddenly, a strange sound came from the leather chair next to me and the Margrave.
Before I could react, the Margrave had already risen from his seat and stood protectively in front of me. But the strange sound continued to grow louder, ignoring his vigilance.
Click. Click. Click.
A strange sound, both rhythmic and disjointed. The black square that appeared in the air gradually folded and unfolded, increasing in size and making a bizarre clicking sound.
Then, at some point, the black square took on a human form, and…
As the blackness disappeared, a young man with an incredibly faint presence sat there.
Long green hair reaching his waist, long ears, and a fresh grassy scent.
An elf.
The last survivor of a race once called the "People of the Forest," now alone on the continent, slowly opened his eyes.
"I've heard your name many times, but this is the first time I've seen you in person."
"Greetings to the kin of the World Tree. May I humbly offer my respects?"
"…That's a forgotten greeting. A truly ancient one."
"I had a chance to hear it by chance."
"How peculiar. The World Tree has burned, and even among its kin, I am the only one left… But those are nostalgic words. Thank you."
"It's an honor."
I had often heard about the Elven Archmage from the Headmistress. Honestly, 90% of what I heard were criticisms and curses, but some of it was worth remembering.
It had been over 100 years since the World Tree burned down due to three Rank 8 monsters, and most of those who knew the Elven Archmage had died of old age. The Headmistress was one of the few exceptions.
I earned some points. It was a remarkable achievement to gain some favor with a Rank 8 who appeared here through unknown magic.
'Even the Margrave is close to the Headmistress, but…'
The Elven Archmage was completely different. I had never seen him in
The Margrave, who had a fierce look in his eyes, was now holding a spear, but there was no reason to treat the Elven Archmage disrespectfully just because I had a reliable bodyguard.
The young man, with an otherworldly aura, quietly looked at me.
…Come to think of it, wasn't he younger than the Headmistress? Then why did he seem older? Was it because the Headmistress looked young?
"I've heard your name many times."
"It's an honor, but I wonder how you came to hear of my insignificant name."
"I heard it from the fifth most promising child among my disciples. Chloe, I believe?"
I had a hunch, but it was indeed Chloe. After all, she received the surname Piste from him.
Elves were quite a peculiar race. Actually, calling them a race was a bit of an exaggeration, as their numbers were extremely small, and all of them were considered a single 'family.' To be precise, it was more accurate to say that there was only one left.
And the Elven Archmage, the last survivor of his race, wanted to continue the lineage of the elves somehow. The World Tree, which was everything to them, had been burned down by three Rank 8 monsters, and their home was gone, but he wanted to preserve at least the surname 'Piste.'
But just as humans and dwarves couldn't have children together, elves couldn't have children with other races either.
Therefore, the Elven Archmage, who became the Tower Master, selected and trained disciples, and finally bestowed the surname "Piste" upon a select few who earned his recognition.
That's why Chloe was Chloe Piste.
'Of course, if they failed midway, their surname was taken away.'
They were truly a peculiar and fastidious race. Even the Headmistress, who once visited the elf village when the World Tree was still healthy, was so put off by them that she swore never to speak of elves again.
It was only thanks to the Elven Archmage being an unusual individual among them that communication was possible. It could be said that he survived precisely because he was different from ordinary elves.
As a side note, of the three Rank 8 monsters that burned down the World Tree and massacred the elves, two survived, and one died.
Considering that the Holy Kingdom was annihilated by the Rank 8 monster Mountain King, it was a truly remarkable outcome. The fact that the last survivor was a Rank 8 was proof of how powerful the elves were. It wasn't for nothing that the Empire treated them with the utmost respect and tried to keep them within their borders.
But why did the Elven Archmage come to me? And what did you say, Chloe?
"The fifth family member… Chloe is a bright child. Especially considering her young age, her tenacity and achievements are outstanding, and I have high expectations for her."
"Student Chloe is achieving excellent grades at the academy."
"I'm sure she is. But as her family, I have some concerns. I came here out of concern for her."
"I see."
So it was that? Just a common parental complaint, albeit on a larger scale?
Since many noble children attended Grandis Academy, there were also many complaints from their parents, the nobles. Of course, there were no bribes because of the Headmistress, but there were complaints like "Is my child doing well?" or "Is my child eating well?"
That was one of the reasons why the Head of Student Affairs became so timid… Anyway, did the Elven Archmage come to me because he heard about me from Chloe?
'I should just pass him off to the Head of Student Affairs.'
Just as I was about to use the common social skill of "That's not my department, please go to so-and-so,"
"It seems that child has fallen in love."
"That's a matter for the Student Affairs office… Excuse me?"
"And it seems that the object of her affection is you."
"Brother-in-law…?"
What? Seriously, what was going on?
Not only the Elven Archmage's words, but why was the Margrave looking at me with a "Isn't that right?" expression? Weren't you here to protect me? Why did it feel like his spear was moving towards me?
"I came to warn you about that."
"I-it seems there's been some misunderstanding—"
"I consider her family, but Chloe is ultimately human. If she mates with you, who is also human, she will surely bear a child."
"Pfft!?"
"If that happens, the family will grow indiscriminately, a truly worrisome matter. I came here to make sure that doesn't happen."
"...…"
"I'm not trying to discourage the feeling of love itself, but it's best not to give her any room for hope in the first place. Reject Chloe's affections, and of course, do not mate with her. This is a warning."
The Elven Archmage's words were indeed a complaint.
But not as a parent of a student…
…but as an overprotective parent.